EVERETT AVOIDS SWEEP WITH 6-1 WIN

EVERETT, March 28, 2014 - The Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-1 Friday night at Comcast Arena. The win allowed Everett to avoid a sweep and makes the best-of-seven series between the two teams 3-1 in Seattle's favor. Game 5 between Everett and Seattle will be Saturday at 7:05 pm at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Tickets to Game 5 at ShoWare Center are currently available on the T-Birds website.

Taran Kozun made his fourth start of the series and stopped 23 of 29 shots before being replaced by Danny Mumaugh, who stopped all five shots he faced. Kozun took the loss, his first of the playoffs. Austin Lotz was in goal for Everett and stopped 17 of 18 shots, getting his first win.

Everett scored early in the game, taking the lead at 1:27. Jujhar Khaira skated around the back of the Seattle net and beat Kozun with a backhand shot over Kozun's shoulder. It was Khaira's first point of the playoffs and came off assists by Brayden Low and Ivan Nikoloshin.

Seattle went right to the offensive from there, getting a dangerous possession that ended without a shot and goal and drawing a penalty for the first power play of the game on their next breakout.

The Silvertips scored while shorthanded just 17 seconds into the penalty, making it 2-0 at 2:32. Josh Winquist collected the puck as it came off Manraj Hayer's stick and shot it into the back of the net for the goal. Hayer had the only assist.

A third Everett goal came at 7:57. Low shot the puck from a sharp angle deep in the zone and got it past Kozun before the goaltender could slide all the way to the post. Khaira and Nikolishin had the assists, giving each of them two points in the game.

Seattle's first penalty came a minute later, giving the Silvertips a power play. Thanks to the dogged forechecking of Sam McKechnie, combined with a few timely clearances, the T-Birds killed of the penalty and kept the score at 3-0. Seattle also recorded their first shot on goal during this shorthanded period.

The last two minutes of the period were played 4-on-4 after offsetting penalties. The open ice resulted in one shot on goal for Everett and one for Seattle. Shot totals in the first were 11-4 in Everett's favor.

Seattle had significant pressure at the beginning of the second period, getting two shots on the rush and holding the puck in their half. Everett had the puck in the offensive zone just once in the first four minutes of the period. The consistent physical play of Seattle eventually earned them a power play at 3:30. The T-Birds had two shots on goal during this two-minute advantage but did not score.

Everett took another penalty just as their first of the period expired, putting the T-Birds back on the power play. Once again, the visitors went scoreless, keeping the deficit for Seattle at three goals.

Kozun made an excellent diving save on Everett's third man advantage. A shot from the point got to the net and rebounded off Kozun directly onto the stick of a Silvertip forward. Kozun kicked his right leg out as he slid across the crease to knock the puck away on the ensuing shot, ensuring that Everett did not score.

The T-Birds got their first goal of the night before the period's expiration, scoring on a bouncing point shot at 18:22. Jared Hauf had the goal, with his shot from high in the zone taking a few odd twists and turns on its way into the back of the net. Ryan Gropp and Mathew Barzal had the assists on the goal, making it 3-1.

Shots in the second period were 11-10 Everett.

Khaira made it 4-1 at 3:30, scoring on the power play. It was Khaira's second goal of the night and third point. Dawson Leedahl and Matt Pufahl had the assists.

Everett narrowly missed a fifth goal just a minute later. Matt Fonteyne got the puck at the bottom of the left faceoff dot before Kozun could slide over, but his shot went wide of the net and Seattle took a penalty not long after, putting Everett on its fifth power play.

The Silvertips scored 35 seconds into that man advantage, making it 5-1 at 5:21. Khaira put home a rebound on the rush for his third goal of the night. Leedahl had the initial shot and earned the only assist on the power-play goal.

Everett's sixth goal came on a delayed penalty at 6:48. Carson Stadnyk scored the goal, with Ben Betker and Winquist getting the assists.

Branden Troock rang the puck off the post on the break with 10:40 left in the game, just missing Seattle's second goal of the night. A similarly close call came from Justin Hickman on the visitors' next possession. Hickman threw a centering pass across the crease that went just in front of Lotz's pads, but no T-Birds were there to give it the necessary tip.

Shots in the final period were 12-4 Everett.

First Round Schedule vs. Everett

Game 1 - @ Seattle 2, Everett 1

Game 2 - Seattle 3, @ Everett 1

Game 3 - @ Seattle 4, Everett 3 (OT)

Game 4 - @ Everett 6, Seattle 1

Game 5 - Everett @ Seattle Saturday, March 29, 7:05 pm

Game 6 - Seattle @ Everett Monday, March 31, 7:05 pm*

Game 7 - Everett @ Seattle Wednesday, April 2, 7:05 pm*

*if necessary

T-Birds single game playoff tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.